BOSTON – Fans, athletes and supporters of the Paralympic Movement came together in Boston Common today to celebrate the upcoming NBC Olympics broadcast of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games.

As U.S. Olympian Caitlin Cahow (women's ice hockey) looks on, wheelchair curler David Palmer, a nominee to the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Team talks about the Games broadcast.

This year, NBC Olympics will broadcast an unprecedented 50 hours of coverage of Paralympic competition from Sochi, Russia, on NBC and NBC Sports Network (NBCSN) beginning with the Opening Ceremony on March 7.

“U.S. Paralympics is incredibly excited to know that family, friends and fans of the Paralympic Movement will be able to tune into NBC to watch Paralympic competition,” said United States Olympic Committee Chief of Paralympics Charlie Huebner. “This extensive coverage wouldn’t have been possible without NBC and the generous support of our amazing sponsors BMW, BP, Citi, Liberty Mutual Insurance, P&G and The Hartford, we’re so thankful for their support.”

All six of the sponsors, BMW, BP, Citi, Liberty Mutual Insurance, Proctor & Gamble and The Hartford, had representatives on the ground for the celebration.

David Palmer, a nominee to the 2014 U.S. Paralympic Wheelchair Curling Team, who will make his Games debut in Sochi, spoke about what the broadcast means to him.

“I have trained and worked very hard to make the team to Sochi, and I can’t wait to compete with my teammates,” said Palmer. “To know that family and friends back home will be able to watch all of our hard work come to fruition is really meaningful. Not only that, but the awareness that the broadcast will bring is amazing. I hope that more children and adults with disabilities are exposed to the Paralympic Movement and get involved.”

In addition to the unprecedented U.S. television coverage, the USOC will provide live online coverage of the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games at TeamUSA.org.

Over 10 days, the Sochi 2014 Paralympic Winter Games will feature more than 750 athletes with a physical disability or visual impairment from 45 countries competing in seven disciplines of five sports. The Games feature 72 medal events (34 men, 34 women, four mixed).

Team USA will compete in each of the sports contested in Sochi with a team of 77 athletes. For the Vancouver 2010 Paralympic Winter Games, the U.S. sent 50 athletes, winning four gold medals, five silver medals and four bronze medals, finishing fifth overall in the medal count.